Organisations and Interest Groups

Although an aid agency that works for and is supported by the churches in the UK and Ireland, Christian Aid works wherever the need is greatest, irrespective of religion. Its policy is to support and work with local organisations, which are best placed to understand local needs, as well as giving help on the ground through 17 overseas offices. Christian Aid believes in strengthening people to find their own solutions to the problems they face and campaigns to change the rules that keep people poor. Christian Aid's website includes information about the organisation and its aims, reports on emergency, refugee and crisis situations around the world, as well as, news, campaigns and other information.

Europa is the official European Commission internet gateway. The website had a re-design in September 2009, to make it more user-friendly. The homepage's sections include: About the EU, Policies and activities, Documentation centre and Media centre. Laws and complex technical material are separated from more general information, to help visitors find what they are looking for. There are also Quick Links for different types of user, such as universities, businesses and job seekers. There is an online tutorial, to help you navigate. Europa is available in all the official EU languages.

Website of Friends of the Earth (FOE) an international environmental organisation, with affiliates in 63 countries worldwide, that is dedicated to preserving the health and diversity of the planet for future generations. The site includes extensive information about the organisation, a news section and details of how to join. Links can also be found to FOE publications (some online) and "earth friendly products." The site also covers in great depth the main areas of FOE's work including the Economics for the Earth Program, it's International Program and a Community, Health and Environment Program.

The New Economics Foundation works with community, non- governmental and governmental organizations, as well as a range of individuals from research institutes in the UK and elsewhere. It has programmes of research areas such as economics, the environment and society. Specific projects can include the formulation of alternative economic indicators at local, national and international levels, research on community enterprise, exploring the links between trade and the environment, and extended product durability.

The New Internationalist magazine is a publication that " ... exists to report on issues of world poverty and inequality ..." The magazine was originally launched in 1970 with support from Oxfam and Christian Aid, it has since become independent and is now produced by New Internationalist Publications a communications co-operative based in Oxford. The magazine is published monthly, typical themes covered include: refugees, poverty, child labour, humanitarian aid, landmines and development issues. The website includes information about how to subscribe to the hard copy of the magazine or alternatively an option to search or browse the full-text of selected articles from many of the back issues.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, part of the system of Western international institutions developed after World War II, is a forum for monitoring economic trends in its 30 member countries, the free-market democracies of North America, Western Europe and the Pacific. It produces extensive publications and statistics on issues such as trade, education, development and macroeconomics. Their country surveys are particularly widely read and information is also available by topic or department, as well as, by user type such as journalist, government official or policymaker. Users can also search the online library and bookshop, sign up for email alerts or personalise the site via the MyOECD service.

Based in Washington, DC, the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics is "a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of international economic policy". The Institute aims to provide practical ideas and suggestions to inform public debate, addressing both audiences in the United States and around the world. The site provides occasional news releases; the text of various speeches, testimony given before US Government committees, and essays, grouped by topic; and a set of links to related websites. The Institute partly funds itself through its publications which are detailed on the site but gives access online to the full-text of working papers.

The Social Market Foundation was established in 1989. Its main activity is to commission and publish original papers by independent academics and other experts on key topics in the economic and social fields, with a view to stimulating public discussion on the performance of markets and the social framework within which they operate. The Foundation is independent of any political party or group and is financed by the sales of publications and by voluntary donations from individuals, organisations and companies. The website provides: details about the Foundation and its activities; links to further information on current research areas; relevant press releases; forthcoming events; the Foundation's published papers and newsletters; a business forum; and details of how to sign up to their regular e-newsletter.

This is the official site for the World Economics Association, a global professional association for economists which "seeks to increase the relevance, breadth and depth of economic thought." The Association emphasises pluralism of approaches to economics, of applications, and of economies studied. The site also hosts the openly-accessible Real-World Economics Review and two other journals. The RWER Blog has commentary on topical issues from authors published in the RWER.

The World Economic Forum is an independent and impartial international organisation committed to "improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas." On this site you will find publications including annual reports and newsletters. There are also details of the organisation's summits and missions.